Chapter 21

Yet again, Ana was sitting across Jack. In another restaurant. But everything was different this time around. She didn’t feel coerced. She actually wanted to be here. Even though technically, she had not even agreed to go on this date with him.

It was weird how she didn’t mind how the man had taken control and basically ordered her into going on a date with him. Ana had thought she hated dominant men all her life, and Jack was coming to prove her wrong. She didn’t know why she did not mind the date at all, if she was being honest.

She could have easily decided to stay at the office and work overtime, or come back home and eat dinner and tell the man off when he came to pick her up. It would have taught him a good lesson about his high handedness. But instead, she had left work early and come back home to get ready to go out with him.

Maybe it was because he was the father of her baby. It didn’t matter that Jack didn’t know. Ana knee, and maybe her subconscious was trying to build things between them so that her child would not grow up without a father like she had. Or maybe it was the fact that she was very much attracted to him. Ana couldn’t say this man was her ideal type. She had always thought she would want a soft spoken and humble man.

But this man wore his confidence like a jacket and she was attracted to him. No. She was drawn to him. It wasn’t attraction at this point. She couldn’t explain it. Ana found herself melting at everything the man said to her.

Or maybe it was the fact that his game was strong. Or maybe her resolve was weak. It didn’t even matter what it was at this point. She just knew there was no way she could have refused to go on a date with this man. Ana would have regretted it for the rest of her life.

“I hope today you’re going to behave better than you did the other day,” Ana said when both of them were comfortably settled.

Jack laughed and Ana had to admit that it was a very appealing sound.

“Only if you want me to. I can behave myself when need be. I am a gentleman.” He said that last bit while leaning towards her and Ana couldn’t help the flush that spread on her face.

She laughed lightly.

“I don’t doubt that. But I think it’s a mask. You have to be a gentleman to please the people in your circle,” she retorted.

“Do you think I try to please anyone by pretending, Ana? Do you really think that?”

It was almost like no one else existed apart from them. They were in their own little bubble and no one could intrude.

“Well, I would say no. But I think that at a certain point in time, all of us pretend to please others.”

Jack stared at her for a moment like he had not expected her to say that. Then nodded. “You’re right. I would be lying if I said I behaved the same with everyone.”

Ana smiled, then frowned a little. “So what made you want to meet me today?”

“Now Ana, you’re a reporter and a writer. You’re supposed to be imaginative. Where did all your questions go to? You keep asking the same questions,” Jack teased.

They both laughed. “Well, we’re not in an interview room right now, are we, Mr. Knight? Plus, last time you didn’t even answer my question. So?” Ana asked then raised her brow.

Jack leaned towards her with a serious expression on his face. This was the first time Ana was seeing him this serious. So she listened keenly to whatever he had to say.

“I haven’t been able to get you out of my head. I’ve been thinking of you since the first day we met, and I have thought of all the ways I could meeet you again,” was his answer.

Ana blushed. She tried not to look away from him but she couldn’t help herself. The answer was a little honest for her, a little too raw for her. So she decided to break it with a laugh.

“I wouldn’t believe you,” she said, then shrugged.

She wanted to believe the man. But what if he went around and told every woman he met that? She knew he was a catch and he didn’t have to lie to get any woman. But the thing was, no matter how much people were worth, sometimes they always told that one little lie.

“And why wouldn’t you believe me, Ana? Do you think I’m a liar?” Jack asked with a chuckle.

Ana blushed again. He was putting her on the spot knowing fully well that the last thing she was going to say was that she was a liar. So she shrugged again. “I don’t know what to believe. I don’t know you.”

“That was not my question, Ana. Do you think I’m a liar?”

“I can’t say, Jack… I just find it hard to believe you.”

“Why?” Jack asked.

It was a tit for tat conversation and no matter how uncomfortable it was, Ana was actually enjoying it.

“Are you seriously asking me that question?”

“If I asked, it means I want an answer, right?” Jack asked with a small smile on his face.

Ana blushed as she answered, "I don't know. I just got the impression that you were a.. player. I mean, we had a one night stand."

She felt kind of stupid saying that. Like she had already formed an opinion on someone based on one encounter she had heard. And on the things she had read in tabloids and watched on TV. But she was not going to tell him that last part.

"So if I say you're easy based on the fact that you came back home with me, I have a point?" Jack asked with an amused smile. He was not offended. He didn't get offended easily.

"I– okay. I get it. No hasty judgements," Ana said with a sheepish smile.

He smiled at her and at the moment, the waiter came to take their orders. He smiled politely at Ana and turned to Jack with a grin. It was obvious the waiter found Jack attractive.

Ana had to stifle a laugh, watching Jack shift uncomfortably in his chair. It was amusing how one person could change his whole confident aura.

When the waiter took their orders and went away, Ana couldn't help herself. She burst into loud laughter and attracted the attention of some of the other patrons. The restaurant was a classy one and to hear someone burst into a fit of uncontrollable laughter was uncommon and seen as some sort of... tawdriness.

Ana didn't mind. Actually, she didn't care. Laughter was the one thing she had no inhibitions with. Her laughter was loud. It wasn't melodious or anything. Did she care? No. Did she stop laughing? No.

Jack watched her with a smile on his face. She was refreshing. The way she laughed freely was different. And it was a good type of different.

"You can stop laughing now," he said, but from his tone, it was obvious that he was not being serious.

"Sorry. It's just you looked way too uncomfortable," Ana said, when her laughter had gone down.

"So my discomfort makes you laugh?" Jack asked, leaning closer to her.

Ana's laughter died down completely. There was something about his tone. She couldn't say what exactly. But it made her hot in places she was even too embarrassed to call in that moment.

"I.. no. I just–"

Luckily for Ana, the waiter came with their starters. It looked delicious and Ana's tummy actually growled. To Jack's relief, it wasn't the same waitress from before. This one was actually really professional and had only polite smiles. Nothing extra.

The rest of the dinner was filled with teasing. Ana felt her heart was going to drop into her stomach throughout the dinner. Jack was attractive without even trying. His voice was doing things to her. And her hormones were going haywire.

"So you've never broken someone's heart?" Ana asked, the dessert spoon dangling in her hand. It was the last course and even though they were not leaving yet, she felt like eating extra slow so that she could savor the moment. She didn't want to separate from him right away.

"Any answer I give will be biased. If I tell you I have, you'd go back to your earlier conclusion. If I tell you no, you'd say I'm a liar," he reasoned out and Ana nodded.

"You're right," she said and looked down. She noticed with dismay that her bowl was empty. Soon enough, the waiter came and cleared the table and put the bill.

Jack paid after a short argument between him and Ana. Ana kind of felt bad leaving him pay. But he didn't give her any other choice.

She waited for Jack to pull out her chair and he put his hand around her waist, and they walked together to the front of the restaurant. After waiting for the valet to bring the car, they got in and Jackstarted heading towards Ana's house.

"I had fun," Ana said.

"I did too. Hope the little one too," Ana thought she heard. Her eyes were wide and she was shaking. How did he discover?

"Sorry? Can you repeat what you said," Ana asked nervous

"Hope we'll do this sometime soon," he repeated and Ana let out a huge sigh of relief.

Finally, he parked the car in an apartment complex.

"So this is it," Jack started.

"This is it."

They looked at each other for a while then slowly inched towards each other. Their lips met and molded against each like their purpose was to meet the other.

Finally, they let go of each other. Ana opened the door and waved at Jack. He smiled, placed a kiss on her forehead and let her go. The night had been a good one.